title: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is independently associated with arterial stiffness in women with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with higher incidences of cardiovascular events and with increased mortality from coronary heart disease. There is increasing evidence that MetS presents as a proinflammatory and prothrombotic state.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationships among adiponectin (a marker for adipocytokines), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, a marker for inflammation), and brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (ba-PWV, a marker for arterial stiffness) in MetS and to identify predictors of ba-PWV, which indicates subclinical atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study is a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of data collected as part of a longitudinal, randomized controlled trial that tested the effectiveness of a therapeutic lifestyle modification for Korean women with MetS (N = 52). We used the definition for MetS suggested by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adiponectin was negatively correlated with hs-CRP (r = -0.316, P = .027) and ba-PWV (r = -0.284, P = .048), and hs-CRP was positively correlated with ba-PWV (r = 0.341, P = .016). Women with high hs-CRP and low adiponectin levels also had greater ba-PWV levels (P = .041). Levels of hs-CRP were independently associated with ba-PWV after adjusting for age, body mass index, and number of MetS components, whereas no independent association was identified for adiponectin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of hs-CRP may provide important prognostic information in terms of future cardiovascular risk in women with MetS.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Nursing Policy and Research Institution, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eui Geum
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Soo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: So Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Sa Saeng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Jee-Aee
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Jung Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein